A few years ago, I had the opportunity to hear Erin Gruwell, former teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Ms. Gruwell told the captivating story of how she became a teacher at the inner city high school. She kept her audience captivated, telling the entire story of her career.

One idea that came through loud and clear was one that was repeated in the movie about her experience, Freedom Writers. It was the idea that her 150 students became a family (and with that kind of support, coming from each other, all 150 graduated from high school).

That is also the underlying idea behind another teacher's success. Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, Georgia, works super hard to get his students to become a family away from home. They become almost inseparable in their quest for success while at RCA. I witnessed that, last year, when I met Mr. Clark and spoke personally with his students.

That's also something I have tried to build amongst my own students - the feeling that we are a family, a special group of unrelated people who have discovered support and encouragement from each other. I have been told that our class has one of the best family atmospheres in the district. I hope we keep growing throughout the rest of the school year and avoid becoming a dysfunctional family.